SACS stumble in Paarl

SACS will be left kicking themselves as wasted opportunities and basic errors cost them the chance of an upset out in Paarl. After the heavy overnight rain it turned out to be a beautiful day for rugby as Paarl Boys’ High eventually ran out 28-18 winners.

It was a game of two halves as Boys’ High came out firing and SACS looked shell-shocked. SACS got into the Boys’ High half only twice but fortunately accumulated six points while down there. Chad Moolman, who had the only clean break of the half, was on target with the two penalties.

Boys’ High dominated territory and possession and should have wrapped the game up by half-time. They took an early lead via a penalty converted by scrumhalf Neville Adams, who had a very good all-round game. Some good scrambling defence by SACS and poor finishing meant Boys’ High were only 15-6 up at the interval. SACS captain for the day, eighth-man Adam Norman, led from the front with some inspired coverdefence.

Boys’ High’s two tries came in contrasting manners. The first a flowing backline move from a scrum in the SACS 22-metre area. The ball went wide and left-wing Johan Wilken came into the line way over on the right. He comfortably beat the cover to score a great try. Flyhalf Wian Buys converted.

The second try came on the back of a huge line-out drive. Boys’ High were dominant in this phase in the first half and they took this particular maul 30-metres up field and well into the SACS 22-mertre area. Buys hit the blindside and was held up but offloaded to Adams who sneaked over in the corner.

In the second half we saw a different SACS team and one that looked more like the team that finished the second term so well. Some terse words from coach Rian van der Westhuizen seemed to spark some life in the SACS effort and they proceeded to dominate the majority of the second half. Moving the ball around well SACS were able to frequently breach the Boys’ High defence. Flyhalf Aaron Jacobs and Moolman combining well with flank Dugald Robertson always on hand to continue the attack. Poor option taking meant SACS were unable to finish off these moves and they had to be content with accumulating points via Moolman’s boot. He kicked impeccably throughout and managed to draw SACS level with Boys’ High mid-way through the second half.

With a light breeze at their backs SACS should probably have played for field position, maintained their territorial dominance and looked to close out the game. Instead they tried to run from inside their own half and conceded a penalty and the lead to Boys’ High. Another silly mistake, as the kick-off was put out on the full, immediately conceded possession to Boys’ High. They attacked laterally through a few phases and were stuck on the halfway line when their hooker Werner Greeff found a gaping hole and next to a ruck. Showing great pace Greeff ran 45 metres to score.

Moolman kicked a penalty to make the score 23-18 to Boys’ High going in the final five minutes. SACS botched the kick-off though and none of their forwards lay a hand on the ball. Boys’ High fullback Lincoln Heugh, who was chasing the kick, snatched it from under their noses and ran in unopposed from thirty metres out. Both conversions were missed and the final whistle went soon after.

The SACS players were left rueing the numerous line breaks they were unable to finish off and the two soft tries they leaked at the death. Apart from the basic errors the second half performance was stirring stuff. Some harsh rugby lessons were learnt though, which will have to be absorbed quickly as SACS go into the final four games of the season.

Scorers:

Paarl Boys’ High
Tries: Johan Wilken, Neville Adams, Werner Greeff, Lincoln Heugh
Con: Wian Buys
Pens: Neville Adams 2

SA College High School
Pens: Chad Moolman 6

By Graeme Wepener